Powell defines today Washington's position towards the crisis in Darfur

The US secretary of state Colin Powell prepared today to decide whether the US considers the crisis in Darfur to the west of Sudan is a case of genocide or not. The spokesman for the US Department Of State, Richard Boucher, said that Powell will define his position during a morning hearing session before the foreign relations committee at the US Senate specialized to discuss the crisis in Darfur which has been witnessing a civil war and a humanitarian catastrophe.

Boucher said he will relate his assessment to an American investigation carried out in July and August and included 1136 refugees from Darfur in 19 different places to the east of Chad where they had resorted.

The spokesman said that the meetings which were held in the course of investigations stressed the continued practices of attacks against black citizens by the Jangaweid Arab militias and at the support of Khartoum forces, noting that the US decision will be based on facts and the law especially the UN agreements on genocide.

This hearing session will be held while the US has increasing its pressures on Sudan by introducing a draft resolution to the UN Security Council threatening Khartoum of imposing sanctions on its oil sector.

It also come at a time when negotiations in Abuja on Darfur, between the Sudanese government and the rebels of Sudan's Liberation Movement and the Equity And Justice movement, is witnessing a new set back, few hours after resumption on Wednesday.

The government's delegation refused the amended draft agreement proposed by the African Federation over the question of security and disarmament in the district, justifying that the new proposals are in contradiction with the cease fire agreement signed in Chad.